Tom Farrell has had time to reflect on his solitary defeat to Ohara Davies and insisted he took his ‘eye off the prize’ and he hasn’t taken it to heart.

The 28 year-old suffered his first professional reverse at the hands of the controversial Londoner last September via TKO.

Farrell conceded the right man won on the night, and perhaps he slightly underestimated Davies, who himself was coming back from a punishing defeat against Josh Taylor.

Discussing the defeat in an exclusive interview with World Boxing News, Farrell said: “I think it was a lot of factors, Ohara was better than I probably gave him credit for, but I think a lot of it was down to me switching off and I think I tried too much to not get nervous.

“I tried to tell myself to relax and enjoy the night and I think I took my eye off the prize a little bit. I forgot I had a big fight and a big task ahead of me in Ohara Davies.

Despite the manner of the defeat, Farrell is determined to not let it set him back, and insisted it will benefit him as a fighter moving forward.

“I’d fight him a lot differently now knowing what I know, it’s just one of those things, it’s a big learning curve.”

On the skills Davies possesses, Farrell added: “He wasn’t anything special or streets ahead of me, I just switched off and I had the wrong tactics and at that level, you’re punished.

“I haven’t taken anything to heart and I’m looking forward to getting back in there and showing people what I can do.

“That little switch off where he caught me early changed the full outlook of the fight and my whole plan for the fight and it was of those things at that level.

“He’s a top quality kid, he’s only been beaten by Josh Taylor, plus he was doing well until then,” he pointed out.

Whilst Farrell respects Davies as a fighter, there is certainly no love lost between the two.

“I didn’t lose too much credit in the way I got beat and people know that I won’t give in and I’ll fight to the end. I’ve got a lot of heart and it’ll take me a long way, it hasn’t disgraced me.

“I used what he did to Josh Taylor to try to antagonize him and wind him up, but he hasn’t been beaten by a mug. It’s just the way he quit against Taylor that will stay with him forever.

“Credit where it’s due, he’s a top fighter, although I don’t like him and I don’t get along with him. I don’t agree with how he’s acted but you can’t take away from him he is a good fighter.” Farrell concluded.

Farrell will have his first shot at redemption when he steps back into the ring on March 10th, with the ultimate goal of impressing before appearing back on the big stage on the undercard of Amir Khan’s comeback fight in his hometown of Liverpool.

Thomas Davison is a staff writer for World Boxing News. Follow Thomas on Twitter @thomasdavison93